Granite Rocks For Aquarium Ok?

[bluefinn725]

hey folks..I was wondering about the use of granite in a freshwater aquarium. I put a rock sample in water and let it set a few days and tested with an electronic pH meter. Ph is 8.27 and "tap water only" sample is at 8.22. The freshwater fish I've been looking at seem to mostly fall in the pH requirement of 6.0 - 7.5. The local fish store personnel stated it shouldn't be a problem since organic wastes will pull down the pH anyway. I might add that I will be installing live plants in this aquarium as well (just an empty tank now). Just wanted to double check that advice. Any thoughts?

 

[CezzaXV]

As long as the fish are properly acclimatised to your water, they should be fine. I keep guppies which are hardwater fish in my water which has next to no hardness to it and they're doing fine.

 

[Comacchio]

Granite is inert - youre fine!

 

[Katch]

you do sometimes get veins of metal running through granite - copper in particular (not great for some fish and real bad news for shrimp)

If you see any green coppery or red rusty colour lines in the rock I wouldn't use it. (I from Cornwall land of granite and use it successfully in a lot of my tanks but I always check my rock carefully.)

You can also add bogwood to your tank which will leach tannins that will help soften your water a tad.